Fire officials honor 11-year-old for helping family escape fire

Lyman Hall Elementary fifth-grader Jema Hernandez is honored Friday morning by Hall County Fire Chief David Kimbrell for her quick thinking during a fire at her home last month. Jema's quick action helped her family get out of the house, possibly saving their lives.

She smelled something unpleasant, and put a pillow over her head to get back to sleep.

But realizing what she smelled was smoke, Jema took action that saved her family’s home, and quite possibly the lives of her parents, older brother, sister and 4-year-old nephew, Hall County fire officials said.

Hall County Fire Chief David Kimbrell explained on Friday, during a presentation for Jema at Lyman Hall Elementary School, that ears stay awake during sleep, but the nose does not.

“There were no working smoke alarms in the house,” Kimbrell said. “Fortunately, she woke up. And you never know what might have aroused her. Just the grace of God, I guess.”

Once awake, the family quickly realized that a space heater in the living room was the culprit of smoke engulfing the living room and spreading into Jema’s room.

“My husband came out to see what was going on, because he saw Jema going back and forth to her room and our room and her siblings’ rooms,” Jema’s mother, Hortencia Hernandez, said. “When he realized what was going on, he just started shouting, ‘Everyone get out! Everyone get out!’”

The fire was under control within minutes of her husband calling the fire department. He began extinguishing the flames with water, as did their 18-year-old son, Angel.

“I want to thank the firefighters. They did such a good job,” Hortencia said. “And I also want to thank them for recognizing Jema in person.”